First Xbox One TV Ad Released By Microsoft, Showcases NFL And Skype [VIDEO]

Xbox One is one device that isn’t just for gaming, and the company is out to prove that in full force. The newest gaming console from the Redmond company has been touted several times as a multi-purpose home entertainment system – something that you would frequently use for more than just gaming – and the company’s latest ad for Xbox One takes that fact even further. This time, Microsoft is targeting National Football League (NFL) fans directly, showing off Microsoft’s Fantasy Football system for the Xbox One and more.

The new ad focuses on football fans by showing off Xbox One’s exclusive Fantasy Football system, as well as the interactive broadcasts of NFL that will be available only on the (gaming) device. Not only that, since Microsoft is so pushing for Skype’s growth past its acquisition of the VoIP service, the ad also showcases how Skype can be utilized in real-world scenarios using the Xbox One – amidst screaming hordes of football fans, of course – and still be of value to consumers.

The ad brings the next in the series of promotion that are a direct result of Microsoft’s partnership with the National Football League. The initiative, dubbed NFL on Xbox, aims to make Xbox One a must-have experience for football fans, through delivering content that is proprietary to Microsoft and engaging for the consumers. This particular ad, which precedes the actual release of the console, doesn’t depict the console in the light of what it’s primarily intended for – gaming – but instead, exhibits it as a full-time entertainment device. NFL on Xbox basically allows you to watch games live, enjoy the Fantasy Football league, and also enjoy personalized and tailored to your taste highlights of actual games. It’s pretty refreshing, actually, and shows that you can, indeed, 

use the Xbox One as more than just a gaming console when it becomes available.

With the evident shift in the Redmond giant’s marketing strategy, not just towards its Xbox console but also Windows Phone and Windows RT devices, it’s more than clear that Microsoft’s is aiming big towards capturing the entertainment and productivity market beyond desktop operating systems. If anything, the recent acquisition of Nokia also appears to be a connecting 

dot, and we can expect to see a lot of similar ventures in the future.

How To Get Galaxy S4 S View Feature On Any Android Device Right Now

If you’ve ever used a Samsung Galaxy device, more specifically a Galaxy S4 in this case, then you’re probably aware of S View. If your device supports a flip-style magnetic cover, then you can get that very same feature on your Android device right now.

In case you’re wondering what S View is, then a little education is in order. S View lets you peak into your device’s notifications through a little window opening in your Galaxy device’s magnetic flip cover. A very handy feature, considering it saves you a load of time and hassle to get the relevant information in a snap.

Now, thanks to a handy app, which comes from a developer over at XDA-Developers, named S View, you can get that very same feature on your device.

The inspiration of the app comes from Galaxy S4’s S View feature, which means that it covers most of the important aspects of S View, feature-wise.

So, what do you get when you install S View on your Android device? First up, it gives you a small window on your lock screen through which you can easily view your notifications, provided that your flip cover has a small opening on it to view them. Secondly, it shows you the called ID when a call is coming through, and of course lets you receive or reject calls from the small window as well. Apart from that, you get the usual bells and whistles, such as date, time, now playing music title etc.

The app is very feature rich and is the closest thing you’ll get to the real thing offered by Samsung on their Galaxy range of devices. But, of course, it does have a few issues. As we mentioned before, your device must have native support for a magnetic flip cover. And, you’ll need a window opening in your device’s flip cover. You can achieve that by cutting through a window yourself using a blade or a pair of scissors, which directly equates to damaging your cover for good. If you’re fine with that sort of thing, then this app is gold for you.

You can download the app from the links provided below. It comes in two flavors, one is free and the Pro version costs 2 bucks. Be sure to give the free version a shot first, if you’re satisfied with the set of features, then decide on getting the Pro version to unlock the complete set of features.

(Download: S View / S View Pro on the Play Store)

Nexus 5 Specs Leak Through FCC: 5-inch Display, LTE, Snapdragon 800 And More

Nexus lineup of devices is the prime of Android, being the first in line for any updates and generally spelling out a smartphone or tablet that will receive the maximum love from the Mountain View-based Google. In the recent days, Nexus 5 has become a very shady subject over the blogosphere rumor mill, and now it seems to have made an appearance in the FCC with a few interesting updates.

According to reports, a new smartphone, manufactured by LG (again), has been approved by the FCC and dubbed D820 for the model version. Not that every LG phone is bound to be the new Nexus 5, but certain indicators do point in that direction. For one, the FCC approval documents show that the device will have Qi Wireless Charging, which indicates a high-end device. Then, there is 7-band LTE support, showing compatibility with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint etc. The leaks also show CDMA/EVDO support, pentaband DC-HSPA+ and quadband GSM/EDGE network support.

On the connectivity front, the package further contains Bluetooth 4.0, Near Field Communication and WiFi module with dual-band 802.11 b/g/n/ac. On top of that, the device seems to be running on a Snapdragon 800 SoC, with a screen measuring up to 4.96 inches to be exact. The firmware version appears to be M8974A, while software is listed as “aosp_hammerhead-userdebugKyeLimePieFACTORYeng.sangjoon84.lee.20130618.015154.”

While not conclusive of anything, such high specs generally spell out a Nexus device, especially if it’s coming from LG again, and the fact that the device in question seems to corroborate with the leaked video that we saw earlier, depicting a Google employee taking photos with an unseen smartphone. Should all this turn out to be true, it will surely be a phone worthy of anticipating.

There are also some other interesting things to note in this whole story. The software version spells “KyeLimePie” which was the former name of Android 4.4 KitKat. The odd spellings for “Key” might be a typo, but it can also indicate a prototype firmware that the company might be playing around with. Either way, it is most certain that this device will be a massive flagship, even if it doesn’t turn out to be the original Nexus 5.

(via: Engadget) (Image credit: BBC)

PayPal v5 For iOS And Android Released: Brand New Design And Impressive New Payment Features [VIDEO]

PayPal is a great service itself and is remarkable to use, but their mobile apps for both iOS and Android, unfortunately aren’t – or maybe wasn’t, taking into account version 5.0 that has been rolled out today for both the smartphone platforms. The new and improved app brings much needed changes to the online payment portal on your phone or tablet, and we’ll be taking a look at the new offerings right after the break.

On the iPhone, the newly designed app borrows heavily from iOS 7 human interface guidelines, and looks and feels loads better than what it used to be earlier. A “Shop” feature has been introduced which basically serves as a portal to locate nearby outlets that support payments via PayPal. Should you happen to be in the vicinity of such a place, you can pay directly making use of the app rather than fishing out cash or credit card.

Next up, you get choice of different payment methods, including multiple credit and debit cards. You may also now apply for a line of credit with PayPal from within the app, thanks to the new Bill Me Later feature for smartphones. Payment transfers are there, too, while PayPal partners can now offer coupons and discounts within the mobile app, making it even easier to manage your PayPal financings without the need for a computer.

On the Android front, the app has improved even further, with v5.0 being more of a rewrite rather than just an interface uplift. First off, you now get the “Hamburger” menu with four distinct options: Shop, Wallet, Activity and Transfer. Shop is exactly what the iOS variant is offering, providing location-aware PayPal support alerts. Wallet is your card and payment method management interface, while Activity provides an overview of what’s been happening in your PayPal account. Transfer is a no-brainer, allowing money transfers to and from other PayPal users.

Comparing both the updates to the previous versions of the app, the Android one appears considerably more significant, offering a much polished interface and usability experience than the clumsy app that PayPal used to be. The updates are rolling out to iTunes App Store and Google Play Store gradually, so if you haven’t received the alert yet, hold on tight – it’s headed your way.

(Download: PayPal for iPhone / Android)

Different iPhones With Screen Sizes Up To 6-inches Being Reportedly Tested By Apple

The Cupertino technology giant, Apple, is reportedly testing smartphones with larger screens, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The famed news outlet bases the claim on its intel from component suppliers that the fruit company might be considering a considerable increase in the screen size for its iPhone lineup of devices for prototype units, but doesn’t forecast a release any time soon.

According to WSJ, Apple is playing around with devices that range in screen size from 4.8 inches to 6”, which is significantly different from what we’ve seen on the current iterations, including the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C which are scheduled to be unveiled on Apple’sSeptember 10th iPhone event.

Assuming the rumors to be true, this would indicate a dramatic shift in Apple’s smartphone strategy, and indicative of the fact that the company has learnt from its past experiences. Until last year’s iPhone 5, Apple had religiously stuck to a screen size of 3.5”, which, while ideal for one-handed use, was nowhere close to what the competition had to offer. Android smartphones, especially those from Samsung, have reached an enormous (and maybe ridiculous) screen real estate of up to 6.3” on the Galaxy Mega, and the Korean company had enjoyed a particular success with its Note lineup of Android smartphones, the smallest of which measures at a hefty 5.3” screen.

The change in strategy wouldn’t be a first for Apple, either. iPhone 5 last year showed that the Cupertino giant had finally decided to give in to consumer demands for a larger screen, something that we’d never seen during Steve Jobs’ reign. Then, with this year’s expected announcement of iPhone 5C – a low cost smartphone for emerging markets – shows that Apple wants to get back in the smartphone dominance game. Android OEMs, especially Samsung, have enjoyed a particular success in this area, offering capable phones for as low as under $100 in certain regions, and iPhone has significantly lost in keeping up, evident from the fact that Apple’s market share fell to 14% last quarter from 19% in year over year comparison.

With all of the above taken into account, we should bear in mind that this won’t be the first time that Apple is playing around with prototype units different from conventional iPhone hardware. So far, we haven’t seen any of these prototypes materialize into reality. Then again, with the pricing change in the form of iPhone 5C, it’s also evident for the first time that the company is actually willing to revisit its marketing strategy, and while it’s unclear as to whether a multi-sized iPhone lineup would ever emerge or not, it’s safe to speculate that things would change in the time to come.

According to earlier reports, it has been suggested that the iPhone 6, which is supposedly launching in June of 2014 will carry a larger display than the iPhone 5.

There hasn’t been any official comment from Apple on the matter.

(Source: WSJ)

BlackBerry To Sell Out Its Business By November, According To Report

With the same of Nokia to Microsoft, the world lost one of the original smartphone makers to what some would call natural wastage. Failing to keep up with the times and a lack of recognition of new competitors left Nokia on its knees, and as if one mega phone maker all but dying wasn’t enough, it seems the writing is on the wall for another.

It’s no secret that BlackBerry, or RIM as we still (wrongly) tend to call it, is struggling. A less than stellar response to the BlackBerry 10 line of phones has left the Canadian firm in dire straits. Previously the king of the enterprise, BlackBerry has seen its lunch devoured by the likes of Samsung and Apple, and it never really seemed to react, other than to change management structure. Now though, that management team appears to be accelerating the search for a buyer for BlackBerry, which follows on nicely with a previous report of a potentialBlackBerry buyout.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, BlackBerry’s leaders are "aiming to run a fast auction process," which believe it or not could see BlackBerry absorbed into another company as early as November. As far as corporate buyouts go, that’s pretty snappy.

BlackBerry has already narrowed down its list of potential buyers, and the sale process is expected to begin in earnest sooner rather than later.

Quite who would be willing to rescue BlackBerry is an interesting question. Depending on the price, we suspect a few candidates would  pop up, if only to get hold of BlackBerry’s assets rather than its long term projects. Still, we can only hope that there is a bright future in store for whatever BlackBerry ends up turning into, if indeed it does stay around rather than simply becoming one with another large technology company. After all, that didn’t work out too well for ether Palm or HP now, did it?

With Nokia moving into Microsoft and BlackBerry on the verge of being assimilated by another company, the options for smartphone buyers really are dwindling. Chin up though, there’s a new iPhone being announced in a few days!

(Source: WSJ)

This iOS Game Lets You Play The Role Of A Hacker

Hacking, as we’ve seen on many occasions, can be used for good as well as evil, or at least unscrupulous ends, but a new game for iOS by the name of 868-HACK plays down the wider issues by letting you have fun and essentially become a computer geek yourself. Of course, since it’s made purely for entertainment, there’s nothing amiss (although one suspects some App Store browsers may be initially off-put), and once you get into it, there’s much fun to be had.

The first thing you notice about 868-HACK is that it’s a bit of a throwback. From the graphics appearing based upon the Space Invaders era to the Pacman-esque movements of the small grinning face you need to move around in order to begin "hacking," 868-HACK feels very much like a lost eighties treasure.

Speaking of Pacman, the plot of the game seems also to borrow quite a bit from the classic title, with the main objective to push the smiley face around as quickly and stealthily as possible and consume data before eventually getting caught.

Unlike Pacman, though, the iOS title is a bit more of a thinker’s game, and success is largely dependent on how well you can refine your strategies. With a total of eight levels, it’s plenty challenging enough, and as you consume your data, it’s up to you where you extract it in order to fend off the onslaught.

With different data packages offering all manner of different abilities, it’s a title that becomes crazily addictive, very quickly, and if you do like a bit of strategy, 868-HACK is definitely the kind of title you’ll want to try out.

It costs $6 over at the iOS App Store, and can be downloaded via the link below. There’s also a version in the pipeline for the PC, so if this does challenge you enough to want more, we’ll be keeping a lookout for that release.

In the meantime, grab 868-HACK via the link, take it for a spin for a while, and be sure to leave your thoughts below.

(Download: 868-HACK for iOS on App Store)